Northside Health Library

Advanced care directives

Alternate Names

Living will; Power of attorney; DNR - advance directive; Do not resuscitate - advance directive

Definition

You may not be able to make health care choices for yourself if you are very ill or injured. An advance care directive is a legal form. It tells your doctor in advance what care you agree to.

Why Write an Advance Directive?

When you are unable to speak for yourself due to an illness, your health care providers may be unclear as to what type of care you would like.

Your family members may be uncertain or disagree about the type of medical care you should receive.

Using an advance directive, you can tell your doctor what medical treatment you do not want to have. You can also state what treatment you want no matter how ill you are.

Writing an advance care directive may be hard. You need to:

Know and understand your treatment options

Decide future treatment options you may want

Discuss your choices with your family

Studies show that most people believe having an advance directive is a good idea; yet, most people have not created one for themselves.

Living Wills

A living willexplains the care you do or do not want. In it, you can state your wishes about receiving:

CPR (if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating)

Feedings through a tube into a vein (IV) or into your stomach

Extended care on a breathing machine

Tests, medicines, or surgeries

Blood transfusions

Each state has laws about living wills. You can find out about the law in your state from your doctor, the state law organization, and most hospitals.

Other important facts include:

A living will is not the same as a last will and testament after a person's death.

You are not able to name someone to make health care decisions for you in a living will.

Other Types of Advance Directives

Special health care power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to name someone else (a health care agent or proxy) to make health care decisions for you when you cannot.

NOTE: It does not give power to anyone to make legal or financial decisions for you.

DNR (do not resuscitate) order.This tells health care providers not to do CPR if your breathing stops or your heart stops beating. Your doctor talks to you, the proxy, or family about this choice. The doctor writes the order on your medical chart.

Fill out an organ donation card and carry it in your wallet. Keep a second card with your important papers. You can find out about organ donation from your doctor. You can also have this choice listed on your driver’s license.

Verbal instructions. These are your choices aboutcare that you tell health care providers or family members. Verbal wishes usually replace those you made previously in writing.

What Else?

Write your living will or health care power of attorney according to your state's laws.

Take a copy with you if you are in a hospital. Tell all medical staff involved in your care about the documents.

You can change your decisions at any time. Be sure to tell everyone involved -- family, proxies, and health care providers -- if a living will is changed. Copy, save, and share the new instructions with them.